The Iron Age Forts of East Devon - A little taster my current project

Bluebells at Blackbury Camp, East Devon.

I have a project in the early stages of research about the Iron Age Forts and Barrows here in East Devon. It is another piece of work that I first had a look at for my writing course (which I desperately need to get back in touch with).

One of these forts will be well known to all serving Royal Marines, General Duties and Musicians, Woodbury Castle. They often mention it on navigation exercises up on Woodbury Common as Castle Feature. Seen from almost anywhere on the Common day at night and aids navigation, so say the Platoons Weapons Instructors!

I have to admit, during my times on the common during Band Service Military Training or when on Command courses did I ever know, confidently, the whereabouts of ‘castle feature’.

It was nice, then, in a quiet spell during the pandemic in 2020, that my wife Kathy and our little boy Murphy, our Westiepoo, took advantage of a sunny Sunday afternoon to take a trip up to Woodbury Castle. Much restoration work has been undertaken up there, and it is very much a place to learn of the Iron Age past in East Devon. I can no longer imagine recruits digging trenches or forming harbour positions there. When the restoration was done, I wondered how many brass cases were found.

Woodbury is well worth a visit if you haven’t been before or it’s been a while since you were last up there.

Another rather picturesque Iron age fort in East Devon is Blackbury Camp. It is situated not too far from the A3052 Sidmouth Road, near Colyton, managed by English Heritage. We went there for the first time earlier this year, just as the Bluebells covering the site started to flower. It is truly a sight to behold, and the fragrance of the flowers is magical. Sadly, I don’t get the full fragrance effect due to Covid-19 damaging my sense of smell. Thankfully, English Heritage has placed signs around the camp asking people not to walk over the Bluebells as they can be severely damaged for future years if we are not careful walking around this ancient part of our local history.

Lastly, in this little taster of a piece I am working on is Hembury Fort. It took us a while to find it. Ironically, I worked at Dunkerswell Airfield for a short period in 2019, and the quickest route to work took me past it.

Hembury Fort is near Payhembury on the A373 from Honiton towards Cullompton. It’s high on a hill and commands a 360-degree view of East Devon and the Blackdown Hills towards Exmoor and Somerset. Not as prolific as Blackbury Camp, it has its own beauty. It is pretty easy to imagine a large structure as a significant place of habitation for living and buying and selling local produce.

I have eight iron age forts in East Devon to research for the article pitch. I intend to come up with a few different ideas on how to use it. I will offer it to several publications or websites to maximise possibilities. I hope they will be taken up and may be able to retire!